Acylation of 4-amino-1-benzylpiperidine (I) with acetyl chloride provides the amide (II). Subsequent debenzylation of (II) by transfer hydrogenation with ammonium formate in the presence of Pd/C yields the piperidine (III), which is finally acylated with 4-fluorobenzenesulfonyl chloride (IV) to give the corresponding sulfonamide.